Floreana Island Galápagos, Ecuador

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

FLOREANA ISLAND GALÁPAGOS, ECUADOR FLOREANA ISLAND, GALÁPAGOS Floreana Mockingbird (Mimus trifasciatus) IUCN* Status: Endangered INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE FLOREANA MOCKINGBIRD: Locally extinct (extirpated) on Floreana Island The first mockingbird species described Inhabits and feeds on the pollen of the due to invasive rats and cats. It now survives by Charles Darwin during the voyage of Opuntia cactus, which has been impacted only on two invasive free oshore islets. the Beagle in 1835. by introduced grazers on Floreana. Floreana Island, Galápagos is the sixth largest island within the Galápagos archipelago and lies 1,000 km o the coast of Ecuador. In 1978, the Galápagos were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Galápagos National Park Directorate manages more than 98 percent of Floreana Island; an agricultural zone (230 ha) and the town of Puerto Valasco Ibarra (42 ha, 140 residents) fills the remaining 2 percent. Floreana Island is an Alliance for Zero Extinction site. WHY IS FLOREANA ISLAND IMPORTANT? Home to 54 threatened species, including species found nowhere else such as Floreana Mockingbird, Floreana Giant Tortoise, and the Floreana Racer. 13 seabird species nest on the island, 4 of which are found only in the Galápagos. FLOREANA ISLAND Galápagos Archipelago, Ecuador Home to 94 plant species found only in the Galápagos, six of which are found 1°17’51”S 90°26’03”W only on Floreana. THE PROBLEM Floreana Island is a paradise of its own; here a small human community of around 150 people live alongside a great, vibrant diversity of native plants and wildlife. Unfortunately, native flora and fauna are not alone in this paradise. Invasive mammals such as mice, rats, and feral cats are also present on the island, causing devastating impacts to native species and in turn the local community. The impacts of these invasive species can be measured–thirteen species are no longer found on the island, including the iconic Floreana Mockingbird. FLOREANA SUPPORTS 60% of the world’s population of Critically A community of about 150 people who 54 IUCN Threatened species Endangered Galápagos Petrels depend on a thriving, healthy ecosystem for survival THE SOLUTION THE RESULTS PROJECT STATUS We can restore the island’s rare and Island Conservation is supporting the The partnership is currently in the endangered plants and animals and Floreana community and other partners planning phase for the removal of invasive improve the local community wellbeing in achieving the partnership’s shared species from the island. Island by removing invasive species. vision of a restored Floreana free of Conservation conducted field studies to invasive species. This will allow the identify options for invasive rodent and Free from the impacts of invasive species, island’s unique fauna and flora the feral cat removal and is working with the native species can once again thrive on opportunity to flourish and thrive and local community on finalizing a plan for Floreana Island, creating a healthy, create the conditions for sustainable implementation. functioning ecosystem. community tourism and farming on the island. #NOEXTINCTIONS www.islandconservation.org.

Copy Link

Recommended publications

Unsustainable Food Systems Threaten Wild Crop and Dolphin Species
INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE Embargoed until: 07:00 GMT (16:00 JST) 5 December 2017 Elaine Paterson, IUCN Media Relations, t+44 1223 331128, email [email protected] Goska Bonnaveira, IUCN Media Relations, m +41 792760185, email [email protected] [In Japan] Cheryl-Samantha MacSharry, IUCN Media Relations, t+44 1223 331128, email [email protected] Download photographs here Download summary statistics here Unsustainable food systems threaten wild crop and dolphin species Tokyo, Japan, 5 December 2017 (IUCN) – Species of wild rice, wheat and yam are threatened by overly intensive agricultural production and urban expansion, whilst poor fishing practices have caused steep declines in the Irrawaddy Dolphin and Finless Porpoise, according to the latest update of The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. Today’s Red List update also reveals that a drying climate is pushing the Ringtail Possum to the brink of extinction. Three reptile species found only on an Australian island – the Christmas Island Whiptail-skink, the Blue- tailed Skink (Cryptoblepharus egeriae) and the Lister’s Gecko – have gone extinct, according to the update. But in New Zealand, conservation efforts have improved the situation for two species of Kiwi. “Healthy, species-rich ecosystems are fundamental to our ability to feed the world’s growing population and achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goal 2 – to end hunger by 2030,” says IUCN Director General Inger Andersen. “Wild crop species, for example, maintain genetic diversity of agricultural crops
[Show full text]
Galapagos-Brochure.Pdf
THE GALÁPAGOS ARCHIPELAGO A PARADISE THREATENED BY INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES Island Conservation’s mission is to prevent extinctions by removing invasive species from islands. Our Galápagos Program prevents extinctions and improves human livelihoods by removing invasive alien species (IAS) from islands throughout the Galápagos Archipelago, develops local capacity, and supports our partners’ efforts to control IAS where eradication is not currently possible. WHY GALÁPAGOS? ISOLATION EVOLUTION EXTINCTION RESILIENCE Growing out of the ocean from The Galápagos’ remote location Of the 432 Galápagos species Invasive alien species (IAS) a volcanic hotspot 1,000 km means its islands were colonized assessed for the IUCN* Red are the leading threat to the off the coast of Ecuador, the by only a few species that List, 301 are threatened and Galápagos’ biodiversity and Galápagos Islands are home subsequently radiated into a many only occur in a fraction addressing IAS is a national to a fantastic array of 2,194 multitude of unique species. of their former range due to priority. Removing IAS will allow terrestrial plant and animal Darwin’s finches are a classic IAS. Four native species have threatened plant and animal species, 54% (1,187) of which example of this adaptive already gone extinct to date. populations the opportunity are endemic (found only in the radiation and inspired Darwin’s to recover, increasing their Galápagos). formulation of the theory of resilience to future threats, evolution. such as climate change. BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS AND CAPACITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE TAKING ACTION ISLAND CONSERVATION BOLD VISION Government institutions and local NGO’s Island Conservation (IC) is ideally The Galápagos National Park Directorate in the Galápagos are world leaders in IAS positioned to add value as a designer has a vision of an archipelago free of feral eradications from islands.
[Show full text]
Help Prevent the Extinction of the Floreana Mockingbird in Galapagos
PRESS RELEASE For immediate release: 15/11/2016 Help prevent the extinction of the Floreana mockingbird in Galapagos Galapagos Conservation Trust has launched a new appeal to save the critically endangered Floreana mockingbird. Only found on two tiny islets in the Galapagos Islands, this charismatic bird inspired Darwin’s theory of evolution, but is now on the verge of extinction. One of the most charming and fascinating species in Galapagos, the Floreana mockingbird is facing extinction with its population now only several hundred individuals. It is only found on two small islets near Floreana island, its original home, where it is thought to have been extinct since the late 1800s. With increasing threats to Galapagos, including more severe climatic events and invasive species, there is an urgent need to restore the mockingbird to the larger island of Floreana, in order to try and prevent its extinction. By supporting projects in Galapagos, the Galapagos Conservation Trust (GCT) has helped to protect several species, including the critically endangered mangrove finch and the endangered Galapagos giant tortoise. Returning the Floreana mockingbird home, however, is going to be one of the toughest challenges yet, and will form part of an ambitious island restoration project to eradicate invasive species and restore suitable habitat on the inhabited Floreana island. Jen Jones, Projects manager at GCT, commented, “With so many changes occurring in Galapagos, both human- and climate-driven, the fight to conserve endemic species is more important than ever. With plans progressing to restore Floreana island to its former glory, now is the time to turn the story of the Floreana mockingbird from one of uncertainty to one of optimism and our Floreana appeal aims to do just that.’ Luis Ortiz-Catedral, project leader on the 2016 Floreana mockingbird project, added, “Floreana island and all its endemic species must be conserved, not only because they are a unique piece of the magical diversity of the Galapagos Islands, but also because we can.
[Show full text]
WILDLIFE in a CHANGING WORLD an Analysis of the 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™
WILDLIFE IN A CHANGING WORLD An analysis of the 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ Edited by Jean-Christophe Vié, Craig Hilton-Taylor and Simon N. Stuart coberta.indd 1 07/07/2009 9:02:47 WILDLIFE IN A CHANGING WORLD An analysis of the 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ first_pages.indd I 13/07/2009 11:27:01 first_pages.indd II 13/07/2009 11:27:07 WILDLIFE IN A CHANGING WORLD An analysis of the 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ Edited by Jean-Christophe Vié, Craig Hilton-Taylor and Simon N. Stuart first_pages.indd III 13/07/2009 11:27:07 The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expressions of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reﬂ ect those of IUCN. This publication has been made possible in part by funding from the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. Published by: IUCN, Gland, Switzerland Red List logo: © 2008 Copyright: © 2009 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorized without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder. Citation: Vié, J.-C., Hilton-Taylor, C.
[Show full text]
Breeding Season Diet of the Floreana Mockingbird (Mimus Trifasciatus), a Micro-Endemic Species from the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
196 Notornis, 2014, Vol. 61: 196-199 0029-4470 © The Ornithological Society of New Zealand Inc. Breeding season diet of the Floreana mockingbird (Mimus trifasciatus), a micro-endemic species from the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador LUIS ORTIZ-CATEDRAL Ecology and Conservation Group, Institute of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 102-904, Auckland, New Zealand Abstract I conducted observations on the diet of the Floreana mockingbird (Mimus trifasciatus) during its breeding season in February and March 2011. The Floreana mockingbird is a critically endangered species restricted to Gardner and Champion Islets off the coast of Floreana Island, in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador. During 11 days, 172 feeding bouts of adult and nestling mockingbirds were observed. The majority of feeding bouts of adults (31%; 19 feeding bouts) involved the consumption of nectar and pollen of Opuntia megasperma. Another important food item consisted of Lepidopteran caterpillars (27%; 17 feeding bouts). The majority of food items fed to nestlings consisted of Lepidopteran caterpillars (26%; 29 observations), followed by adult spiders (19%; 21 observations). The reintroduction of the species to its historical range on Floreana Island is currently being planned with an emphasis on the control or eradication of invasive cats and rats. To identify key areas for reintroduction, a study on the year-round diet of the species as well as availability and variability of food items is recommended. Nectar and pollen of Opuntia megasperma was an important dietary item for the species during its breeding season. This slow-growing plant species was widespread on the lowlands of Floreana Island but introduced grazers removed Opuntia from most of its range.
[Show full text]
Holocene Vertebrate Fossils from Isla Floreana, Galapagos
Holocene Vertebrate Fossils from Isla Floreana, Galapagos DAVID W. STEADMAN SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ZOOLOGY • NUMBER 413 SERIES PUBLICATIONS OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION Emphasis upon publication as a means of "diffusing knowledge" was expressed by the first Secretary of the Smithsonian. In his formal plan for the Institution, Joseph Henry outlined a program that included the following statement: "It is proposed to publish a series of reports, giving an account of the new discoveries in science, and of the changes made from year to year in all branches of knowledge." This theme of basic research has been adhered to through the years by thousands of titles issued in series publications under the Smithsonian imprint, commencing with Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge in 1848 and continuing with the following active series: Smithsonian Contributions to Anthropology Smithsonian Contributions to Astrophysics Smithsonian Contributions to Botany Smithsonian Contributions to the Earth Sciences Smithsonian Contributions to the Marine Sciences Smithsonian Contributions to Paleobiology Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology Smithsonian Folklife Studies Smithsonian Studies in Air and Space Smithsonian Studies in History and Technology In these series, the Institution publishes small papers and full-scale monographs that report the research and collections of its various museums and bureaux or of professional colleagues in the world of science and scholarship. The publications are distributed by mailing lists to libraries, universities, and similar institutions throughout the world. Papers or monographs submitted for series publication are received by the Smithsonian Institution Press, subject to its own review for format and style, only through departments of the various Smithsonian museums or bureaux, where the manuscripts are given substantive review.
[Show full text]
GALAPAGOS NEWS Spring – Summer 2018
GALAPAGOS NEWS Spring – Summer 2018 RESTORATION OF Highlights from FLOREANA ISLAND the GC Blog Volcanic Eruptions 2019 PHOTO Filming Blue Planet CONTEST PROJECT UPDATES: We need Landbird Conservation your photos! Status of the Blue-foots Giant Tortoise Restoration Initiative www.galapagos.org The view from the path that leads to beautiful Flour Beach, a popular visitor Become a site and sea turtle nesting site, on Floreana Island's northern coast. © Lori Ulrich GALAPAGOS CONSERVANCY Galapagos Guardian MEMBERSHIP FROM THE When you join the Galapagos Guardians Monthly Giving Program, you provide GC with reliable support that allows us to establish long-term conservation plans. GALAPAGOS CONSERVANCY STANDARD MEMBERSHIP PRESIDENT Plus, it’s easier on your wallet (spreading your giving out Johannah Barry Thanks to all of our members who make our work possible. We over time), and it’s easier on the environment and lowers could not preserve, protect, and restore the Galapagos Islands our fundraising costs because we will no longer mail you without your generosity and commitment to conservation. Our paper renewals. annual membership levels are as follows: You choose the amount and frequency of your gift CONTENTS Friend: $25 Advocate: $250 and can change your preferences by contacting us at ver the decades, scientists and conservation managers in Galapagos have any time. Donations are automatically and securely Family: $50 Protector: $500 3 GC Membership Oset many seemingly impossible goals. Starting in the mid-90s with Project Isabela, charged to your credit card on the 15th of the Galapagos Guardians the Galapagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation teamed together with Supporter: $100 month.
[Show full text]
Hybrid Ancestry of an Island Subspecies of Galã¡Pagos
Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 69 (2013) 581–592 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ympev Hybrid ancestry of an island subspecies of Galápagos mockingbird explains discordant gene trees ⇑ Pirmin Nietlisbach a, , Peter Wandeler a, Patricia G. Parker b, Peter R. Grant c, B. Rosemary Grant c, Lukas F. Keller a, Paquita E.A. Hoeck a,1 a Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland b Department of Biology, University of Missouri–St. Louis, R223 Research Building, One University Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63121, USA c Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, 106A Guyot Hall, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA article info abstract Article history: Introgression of genes through hybridization has been proposed to be an important driver of speciation, Received 15 April 2013 but in animals this has been shown only in relatively few cases until recently. Additionally, introgressive Revised 17 July 2013 hybridization among non-sister species leads to a change in the gene tree topology of the concerned loci Accepted 18 July 2013 and thus complicates phylogenetic reconstruction. However, such cases of ancient introgression have Available online 30 July 2013 been very difﬁcult to demonstrate in birds. Here, we present such an example in an island bird subspe- cies, the Genovesa mockingbird (Mimus parvulus bauri). We assessed phylogenetic relationships and pop- Keywords: ulation structure among mockingbirds of the Galápagos archipelago using mitochondrial and nuclear Introgression DNA sequences, autosomal microsatellites, and morphological measurements. Mitochondrial haplotypes Hybridization Phylogeny of Genovesa mockingbirds clustered closely with the haplotypes from two different species, San Cristóbal Speciation (M.
[Show full text]
Cotinga 33 Contents
Cotinga 33 Contents News & Reviews 2 Advertising Information 136 New records of Sulphur-breasted Parakeet Aratinga 3 Club News maculata in Pará and Amapá states, Brazil Thiago Vernaschi Vieira da Costa, Christian Borges Andretti, Fábio Olmos & José 120 Short Communications Fernando Pacheco 120 Nuevos registros de Columbina minuta, Pionus senilis y 137 Marsh Seedeater Sporophila palustris and Tawny-bellied Basileuterus culicivorus en el estado de Yucatán, México Seedeater S. hypoxantha recorded in Tocantins state, Brazil Juan Chablé-Santos, Celia Sélem-Salas & Silvia Hernández- Fábio Olmos & José Fernando Pacheco Betancourt 138 First records of Blue-billed Black Tyrant Knipolegus 121 La Tangara Aliamarilla Thraupis abbas en Costa Rica, cyanirostris for Goiás, Brazil Iubatã Paula de Faria, Sandro historia y dos nuevos registros Andrés Zuñiga & Barata Berg, Tarcísio Lyra dos Santos Abreu, Ana Paula Diniz Luis Sandoval Nakamura & Pedro Diniz 122 Deadly intra-specific aggression in Collared Aracari 140 New data on the breeding biology of Gilt-edged Tanager Pteroglossus torquatus Jeffrey D. Ritterson & Adam C. Stein Tangara cyanoventris Carlos Otávio Araujo Gussoni & Pedro 123 First record of Sungrebe Heliornis fulica on Bonaire, Ferreira Develey Netherlands Antilles Peter J. Rozemeijer 140 Primeiro registro do criticamente ameaçado pica-pau-do- 124 The nest and eggs of Yellow-throated Bush Tanager parnaíba Celeus obrieni no Estado do Mato Grosso (Brasil) Chlorospingus flavigularis Harold F. Greeney, Bryan Suson, e comentários sobre distribuição geográfica e conservação Rudy A. Gelis, Ben Freeman & Eliot T. Miller Túlio Dornas, Gabriel Augusto Leite, Renato Torres Pinheiro & 125 The nest and eggs of Blue-and-black Tanager Tangara Marco Aurélio Crozariol vassorii Harold F.
[Show full text]
Floreana Island, Galápagos
Floreana Island, Galápagos PROJECT MISSION Restore Floreana Island’s ecosystem by removing invasive species in order to protect the island’s rare and endangered plants and animals and benefit the local community. PROJECT VISION Livelihoods of Floreana residents are improved and native species are once again thriving on Floreana Island, providing pride, enjoyment and economic benefits to Galapagueños, Ecuadorians, and international visitors. THE PROBLEM A suite of invasive species threaten native plants and animals through predation and competition for resources. The Critically Endangered Floreana Mockingbird can no longer breed on Floreana Island due to feral cats and invasive rats, and is currently restricted to two small, nearby islets, Champion and Gardner Islands. WHY IS FLOREANA ISLAND IMPORTANT? THE SOLUTION With support from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, Island • HOME TO 54 IUCN Conservation is working with the island community, Floreana Parish Council, THREATENED SPECIES Galápagos National Park, Galápagos Biosecurity Agency, and Ministry of Agriculture to • WORLD’S LARGEST plan and implement our shared vision of reviving Floreana’s natural island ecosystem GALÁPAGOS PETREL by removing invasive feral cats, rats, and mice. BREEDING COLONY, WITH Floreana Island, Galápagos is the sixth largest island OVER 60% OF THE GLOBAL within the Galápagos archipelago and lies 1,000 km POPULATION off the coast of Ecuador. In 1978, the Galápagos were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The • 11 SEABIRD SPECIES NEST Galápagos National Park manages over 98% of Floreana ON THE ISLAND, INCLUDING Island; an agricultural zone (230 ha) and the town of 4 SPECIES FOUND ONLY IN Puerto Valasco Ibarra (42 ha, 140 residents) fills the THE GALÁPAGOS remaining 2%.
[Show full text]
Evolution of Galapagos Mockingbirds and Their Parasites 3 October 2011
A hitchhiker's guide to the Galapagos: co- evolution of Galapagos mockingbirds and their parasites 3 October 2011 mockingbirds, but the two other parasites showed very similar evolutionary histories. Jan tefka, lead author of the research, said, "Combining DNA data from several organisms that share their history, improves our confidence in the evolutionary patterns we see. In this case the host specific parasites reveal more about the recent evolution of the mockingbirds than the bird data in isolation." He continued, "These results have implications for the conservation and taxonomy of Galápagos mockingbirds. For example the critically endangered Floreana mockingbird is now extinct on the island of Floreana. However, to our surprise, the number of parasites on one of the remaining populations was much less than expected. This suggests that the infestation was probably due to a recent introduction of the parasite from a different This is a Hood Mockingbird. Credit: Jan Stefka island." Paquita Hoeck from the University of Zurich adds, "Hosts and parasites evolve specific adaptations Along with the famous finches the Galapagos when living in isolation. To avoid the undesirable mockingbirds had a great influence on Charles spread of parasites or pathogens after a planned re- Darwin's theory of evolution. Now, 176 years later, introduction of mockingbirds back to Floreana, three of the four mockingbird species are among different histories of parasites in the two remaining the rarest birds in the world. New research satellite populations need to be considered." published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Evolutionary Biology untangles the More information: A hitchhikers guide to the evolutionary relationships between Galápagos Galapagos: co-phylogeography of Galapagos mockingbirds and provides information about their mockingbirds and their parasites, Jan Stefka, parasites to help ensure the birds survival.
[Show full text]
The Mockingbirds of Galapagos
Avian Altruism and Conservation Conundrums: The Mockingbirds of Galapagos Figure 1: Galapagos mockingbird perched on an Opuntia cactus pod on Santa Fe Island. (Author) Michael Zhu Chen Professor Bill Durham – Sophomore College: Darwin, Evolution, and Galapagos Stanford University 12 October 2015 Chen | 2 ABSTRACT The mockingbirds of the Galapagos Islands have played an important role historically and biologically. Charles Darwin was originally inspired by the different physical characteristics of the mockingbirds on the various islands of the archipelago. More than two hundred years later, biologists are studying their history of speciation and their unique social behaviors. This report investigates the evolutionary origins of the cooperative breeding behavior of the mockingbirds of Galapagos, in which non-breeding birds become “helpers-at-the-nest” and assist pairs of breeding birds in raising offspring. Such “altruistic” behavior must have some benefit to the helper by nature of having been selected for, but studies have found that there are no direct fitness benefits to the helper. This raises the question: What are the benefits to helpers in the absence of direct fitness benefits? Two hypotheses are proposed: Hypothesis 1 is that helpers are closely related to breeders and hypothesis 2 is that offspring raised by helpers reciprocate help. Data from case studies of Galapagos mockingbirds on Genovesa Island appear to support both hypotheses. Lastly, this report examines the current status of mockingbirds of the Galapagos and the conservation challenges facing the critically endangered Floreana mockingbird. Chen | 3 INTRODUCTION When Charles Darwin first set foot in the Galapagos Islands, he was immediately captivated by the incredible diversity of flora and fauna on the archipelago.
[Show full text]